Fence-post



(No Model.)

B. P.. PHILLIPS FENCE POST.

No. 255,810. Patented Apr. 4,1882.

WITNESSES l/VVE/VTOI? ezmm,

N PEIERS, mwum n w. Withingtom m c l UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ELI P. PHILLIPS, OF FINDLAY, OHIO.

FENCE-POST."

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 255,810, dated April 4, 1882.

Application filed January 23, 1882. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ELI 'P. PHILLIPS, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Findlay, in the county of Hancock and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fence-Posts; and I do hereby declare .the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it ap- 1o pertains to make and use the same. i

This invention has relation to improvements in fence-posts and foundation or bed blocks for the same; and its object is to provide a durable and substantial fence-post and foun- 1 dation-bl0ck, which may be cheaply and conveniently made and united for the purposes intended.

My improvement therefore consists in a fence-post provided with base or foundation 2o studs or rests, and side braces fixed to rest on the foundation and retained in position by staples driven over the braces into the post, in combination with a foundation-piece countersunk in the center and secured to the base of the post by means of a bolt or screw.

My improvement further consists in the novel construction and combination of'parts, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth and specifically claimed.

0 In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, Figure l is a perspective view of my improved post and foundation or base block. Fig. 2 is a vertical central sectional view of the same; and Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the base or lower portion of the post, showing base studs or rests.

To consummate the objects of my improvements, I take a piece of timber of the requisite dimensions and cut therefrom the post A, sub- 0 stantially of the shape shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, and form therein the central bolt-hole, a, and in the plane base thereof drive or otherwise insert the metallic spikes or bolts b, locating them at or near each corner of the the staple (Z to retain them firmly and securely in position. In Fig. 2 of the drawings I have shown the lower free ends of the side braces,

c 0, extending slightly into the stone base, which is desirable in some cases. I then make the foundation or base stone B by shaping it as desired with the central countersink, c, on the top and a correspondingconcavity,fi on the un der side, and drill in the center a hole for the, passage of the connectingbolt g, and the parts are then ready to be united and set up. On the connecting-bolt I slip a washer, into which the head of the bolt fits, and then,inserting the bolt through the foundation-stone from the under side, I screw it home, thus drawing the post firmly down on the upper surface over the sunken portion of the stone and until it rests solidly on the base studs or rests and also on the side braces.

The advantage of the base studs or rests in the post is to keep water from being absorbed by the post, thus preventing early rotting and decay; and also, forthe same reason, the face of the stone under the post is dished out. The dishing out of the stone on the upper surface 7 affords means for the water from the post and stone surface to collect and escape through the bolt-hole of the stone base without remaining in contact with the wood of the post, which otherwise would absorb the water and decay 8o in a short time; also, by dishing the stone base on the under surface, it preventsthe water from lodging around the bolt.

It is obvious that in attaching a fence to this ppst the boards may be nailed to the face, or rails may be mortiscd in the sides, as usual, in either case.

I do not wish to confine myself to the shape and construction of the post and stone baseblock, as shown, since other shapes or config- 9o urations will answer as well in carrying out the invention; also, the base-blocks B maybe made of stone or sand composition formed in suitable molds, or otherwise formed; also, the side braces may be made of a single piece of 5 metal extending entirely through the post, in the manner indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 2 of the drawings.

W'hat I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. Afence-post formed. withabolt-holein the braces c, staples d, foundation or base block to center of the base, provided with base studs B, and connecting-bolt g, substantially as and or rests and slanting side braces, with staples for the purposes set forth. driven in the post over the side braces, in com- In testimony whereof I affix my signature in 5 bination with afoundation or base stone form ed presence of two Witnesses.

with central top countersunk and bolt-hole ELI P. PHILLIPS. and a connecting-bolt. Witnesses:

2. The fence-post herein described, consist- O. A. BALLARD, ing essentially of the post A base-studs b, AARON B. SHAFER. 

